• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Tesla Owners Stung by Capitalism
  • Mercedes Updates GLE Models for 2024 Model Year
  • First Look: Mazda’s Bigger, More Luxurious New CX-90
  • GM Net Income Rises for Q4 But Falls for Full Year 2022
  • GMC Launches Production of Hummer SUV; Needs Until 2024 to Fill Outstanding Orders
  • Vehicle Sales Up for January Despite Ongoing Challenges
  • Bidding Adieu to Bugatti’s W16 Engine
  • Ford “Significantly” Raising Production of Mustang Mach-E While Reducing Prices “Across the Board”
  • Week Ahead: Numbers, Numbers and More Numbers
  • The Rearview Mirror: All That the Name Implies
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
    • A Week With: 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R 4x4 Super Crew
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8
    • First Drive: 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport
    • A Week With: 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
    • A Week With: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance
    • A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Suburban Z71
    • A Week With: 2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > reviews > BMW Z4 Takes its Formal Bow in Pebble Beach

        BMW Z4 Takes its Formal Bow in Pebble Beach

        Is that a hint of the new Toyota Supra we see?

        Paul A. Eisenstein
        Paul A. Eisenstein , Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
        Aug. 23, 2018
        The new BMW Z4 roadster offers few hints that it shares its roots with the new Toyota Supra.

        Sure, we got a look at the concept version of the new BMW Z4 a full year ago, but there were still plenty of skeptics wondering exactly what the Bavarians would come up with when it was time to roll out the production model. Skepticism was, perhaps, in order considering they had to coordinate development of the next-generation roadster with Toyota which is using the underlying platform for its reborn Supra.

        Anyone who expected to see a badge-engineered convertible can now breathe a sigh of relief. Almost precisely a year after revealing the concept version, BMW is back in precisely the same place, Pebble Beach, to roll out the production version, and if first impressions – and some hints about the specs – matter, the new Z4 should generate some serious buzz.

        /about/subscribe
        Product News!

        We’ll have to wait another month to get all the specifications, BMW tells us, hoping to play out the anticipation card for as long as possible, but the automaker has one significant detail to reveal, the Z4 M40i edition will rely on an updated version of the familiar 3.0-liter straight-six to get it up to 60 mph in an estimated 4.4 seconds.

        (Infiniti plans to blend classic and modern with a roadster concept coming to Pebble Beach. Click Here for more.)

         

        The First Edition Z4 roadster will come in distinctive Frozen Orange Metallic paint.

        It’s been almost 17 years since the first version of the Z4 took a bow and while it has been a credible contender in the small but competitive roadster market, it was never a real star. Whether it can really break out now remains to be seen. If anything, it’s going to have still more competition from the upcoming Supra. The good news is that, based on what we’ve seen with the race version of the Toyota the two models will have some significant visual and technical differences and likely target different audiences.

        What we’re seeing out in Pebble Beach is what BMW calls the Z4 First Edition, painted in Frozen Orange Metallic, with a contrasting BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line, and an anthracite fabric top. No origami metal roof here. This is a classic roadster. That said, the electronically powered canvas cover can raise and lower in a mere 10 seconds.

        The new Z4 boasts a low and wide stance, with a broad take on the Bavarian double-kidney grille Framed by LED lamps that flow back into the front corner panels. There’s a lot going on below the bumper, a central intake sucking in air for the turbo-six and additional inlets to provide both cooling air for the big M Sport brakes and the air curtain system aimed at reducing mileage – and performance – robbing turbulence around the First Edition’s 19-inch front alloy wheels.

        An attractive interior, nonetheless, retains the familiar BMW cues, including iDrive.

        The air vents behind those wheels exit into deeply scalloped doors , an upper character line flowing into aggressive rear wheel arches.

        Inside, the Z4 M40i First Edition was shown in hand-stitched black leather. The overall instrument panel will look familiar to BMW aficionados, with a driver-focused layout. There’s the familiar iDrive controller, of course, and a head-up display provides extensive data that, like the instrument cluster, can be readily reconfigured to personal tastes. There are twin display screens and a Harman Kardon surround sound audio package.

        The new Z4 promises to have a lower center of gravity than the old roadster, with a near 50-50 weight distribution. Handling is further enhanced by the cars M-tuned sport suspension.

        (Audi will bring the all-electric PB 18 e-tron concept to Pebble Beach. Click Here to check it out.)

        The Z4 M40i will hit 60 in about 4.4 seconds.

        The M Sport division was busy, in fact, setting things up on the Z4 M40i, providing that brake package, as well as the roadster’s rear differential.

        We heard some preliminary numbers for the Z4’s powertrain, though final figures are set to be released on September 18th. In the meantime, expect to see that turbo-six push out something on the order of 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. By the time BMW launches all the anticipated variants, however, it should cover quite a bit of range – and price segments.

        How pricing will compare to the old roadster is also up in the air. But we can look to see the somewhat tamer Z4 30i roll into U.S. showrooms earlier next spring, with the M40i to follow a few months later.

        (Chinese-funded Byton is one of several new automakers looking to make a splash in Pebble Beach. Click Here for more.)

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published
        2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8 best front

        A Week With: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8

        Jan. 25, 2023

        A Week With: 2023 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe

        Jan. 20, 2023
        2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate best

        A Week With: 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate

        Jan. 18, 2023

        One response to “BMW Z4 Takes its Formal Bow in Pebble Beach”

        1. Allen says:
          August 24, 2018 at 6:20 pm

          Looks a lot better than the original Z4. Hopefully, it looks as good as it photographs.

          Reply

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        What Are You Looking For?

        See More
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Buying a car? See our recommended reviews and guides.
        Reviews and Resources For Car Buyers and Owners
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Reviews and Resources For Car Buyers and Owners
        Collection
        Car Reviews and Guides
        Collection

        Car Reviews and Guides
        Recommends
        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends

        The Best Car Insurance Companies in 2022 (with Costs)
        Recommends
        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends

        Best Car Warranties – 2021 Comparison (Factory & Extended)
        Recommends
        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Recommends

        7 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2022)
        Close
        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: